Wondering why there's so much hate for teachers?

[Nannyogg134]

I've just been reading some responses to another thread concerning teachers and working over summer and there's a real mix of thoughts. I know that everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but I'm always very taken back by the amount of negative comments regarding teachers (especially regarding workload and school holidays.)

I've taught in a state secondary school for almost 13 years and I came to the job after working in a care home for a few years. There are pros and cons; the school holidays are great (and yes, they are unpaid- teachers are paid per day of their contract, this is term time only, the wage is delivered over 12 monthly payments for ease of life.) However, there is no flexibility, so I rarely see my own children in sport's day, nativities, or even on parent's evening (if it clashes with something at my school.) Overall, I feel very passionately about giving my best to my students and extra time I spend on them feels mostly worthwhile.

However, whenever there is chat about teaching, the general feeling seems to be very negative. I'm just wondering where this seems to come from? Is it the classic 'horrible teacher' stereotype we see on TV etc.? Or is it a leftover from some of our own school days?

I suppose it's not really AIBU, more of a wondering where this issue comes from and if public view can ever be shifted?

I appreciate I may have just been lucky to work for employers who realise that if someone is very ill over their annual leave then they are not returning to work rested and deserve the extra time back. DH used to work for a terrible private sector employer who had many questionable policies but they still gave him his annual leave back when he needed an operation whilst on holiday.

This. I don’t think there is generally “hate” towards teachers. However there are definitely a few on mn claiming to be the hardest working worst treated people ever. People get tired of that and rightly so

MsPincher
Maybe teachers get tired of the same old lies being told about them and their work....and rightly so.

We can start with your assertion that anyone has said teachers and schools were perfect.
Or that teachers don't understand data and risk assessment then your misrepresentation of data by "myth" busting.

But you do you.

I don’t think many teachers have a vocation, based on the apathy I saw in most as a pupil in secondary school and also the horrific threads I’ve read on MN.

I wouldn’t saw teachers do what they do for the love of it, based on my own experiences. And I was in the top 1% of performers in my year, despite the haphazard schooling.

@FrippEnos

I didnt assert that anyone thinks schools are perfect.

However its clear to see the offence and annoyance when any parent says they had a poor experience. Even down to implying you're a shit parent if you complain.

Even when it's nothing to do with you (general) personally

Lots of teachers (and certainly their unions) didn't appear to be able to understand data or risk assessment during the pandemic. Or since actually

Lots of them consistently claimed schools weren't safe and they were at higher risk from covid than they were

Despite all of the evidence and data showing that wasn't true.

So either they (those particular teachers who wanted schools shut and then not reopened) can't interpret data and risk assess or they were misrepresentation the data on purpose

I dont know what you mean by myth busting.

Well maybe they do but how is that helping to answer the question in the OP? And MsPincher said ‘a few on mn…..’, not all teachers.

The 2 things are not mutually exclusive. A few teachers might spout rubbish about their job being the worst in the world and other teachers might get tired of untruths being told about them. But the second doesn’t really answer the OP, whereas the first does.

And don’t start telling me to quote where those few teachers on mn have done it, because they definitely have. Those posters who start sentences with ‘name me one other job….’.

We in the uk dont value teachers. The top students aren’t becoming teachers, they are becoming lawyers and doctors or going into finance.

the students who become teachers just need to have passed English and maths and done a teacher course or pgce.

In my experience these people find teaching difficult because they themselves found school difficult.

we need to start valuing teachers, paying them significantly more and making the entry requirement much higher so we get the top students becoming teachers. Will never happen though. But we should want highly educated people teaching our children.

At no point did I say it was the pay scale for the whole of the UK. I was, however, accused of making stuff up - as if it couldn't possibly be the case that it was the salary after 5 years simply because it didn't happen in England.

It responds to the comment that the poster said and explains exactly why teachers complain. If someone told lies about you constantly would you not put them right?

As for the...and don't start telling me....who are you to dictate what I can and can't respond with?

At no point in your message that I quoted did you say that you were not in England. No I didn't say you had made it up at all, that is a lie. I think you'll find that I said most schools do not use that pay scale which is an accurate statement.

@bigfootisreal

someone told lies about you constantly would you not put them right?

Huh

And yet you felt it was appropriate to make up stuff about a parent you nrw literally nothing about?

Don’t care what people think about teachers anymore as this coming academic year will be my last. Off to pastures new.

All jobs have their positives and negatives but MN posters get in a real tizz about health/education/social care roles.

My only concern is that the nice independent school I have worked in for the past 5 years now struggles to recruit. Head is depressed about recruitment as he used to get a good pool of pretty decent applicants. (And subject is irrelevant). So I would like to see better recruitment for secondary subjects, smaller class sizes and something in place that could improve retention.

Topgub

So either they (those particular teachers who wanted schools shut and then not reopened) can't interpret data and risk assess or they were misrepresentation the data on purpose

Once again you try to rewrite history. Teachers wanted the same measures in place that all other places had, or a variation in them.

This may have prevented the entire years being closed due to covid. but you are happy to say that teachers didn't understand the data when you are just ignoring the data that doesn't support your narrative,

I was applying your logic to parents as you do to teachers! You clearly didn't understand the point I was making.

@bigfootisreal

Your point doesn't make sense.

I had a valid, justified reason for complaining

You decided that meant teachers would be justified in complaining about parents like me.

That's ridiculous

@FrippEnos

I'm not rewriting history.

Education is an essential service. Teachers wanting the same restrictions applied to schools as non essential services kind of shows up how much they themselves value their roles eh?

And proves my point

All I did was say the same about parents as you did about teachers. If you think it was ridiculous to say it about parents then you just pointed out how ridiculous it was to say it about teachers.

@bigfootisreal

That makes zero sense.

Its not ridiculous to complain when the complaint is justified. Something you seem completely unable to accept

It is ridiculous to say that parents are never justified in complaining and if they do that means teachers are allowed to presume they are shit lazy parents.

I didn't say they weren't justified in complaining at all. You've made that up.

What I did say was that teachers were justified in complaining about parents and they are because a lot of parents were lazy and needed their bums wiping and still do it seems.

@bigfootisreal

No.

You made a personal comment with no justification. It wasn't a general comment

You specifically said parents like me.

a lot of parents were lazy and needed their bums wiping and still do it seems.

I think that attitude answers the original question. Let’s stop there.

Topgub
In the same way that you made the same. Why is it ok for you to make such comments about teachers but it is not ok the other way around?

This.

I don't see widespread hate for teachers. Most acknowledge it's a difficult and important job. I think the trouble comes when some teachers insist that their job is the hardest in the world and nothing else can quite compare. Plus that they have no benefits. There will be exceptions to both of course.

In either case a race to the bottom isn't useful, and I think there is a huge societal benefit to our teachers remaining engaged and motivated.

@bigfootisreal

Omg.

The comments I made were an explanation of the poor provision from my kids school during lockdown.

My actual experience.

Not a made up presumption completely unjustified. Or even a general comment on 'teachers'

That is not in any way the same as you making unfounded statements about my (or anyone elses) parenting

The fact you can't grasp the difference is pretty concerning